LOVE and marriage once again seem to be going together like a horse and carriage.

After decades of societal hand-wringing about the see-saw effect of the marriage and divorce rates - one goes down as the other goes up - wedlock fans have finally got a reason to celebrate.

For the first time in eight years the number of people getting married has increased on the year before, rising nearly 2pc from 263,515 in 1999 to 267,961 in 2000, statistics say.

But according to the study - by relationship research body One Plus One - the reasons behind the unexpected return to marriage may be far from traditional.

It might seem far-fetched, but a combination of wanting to get married in time for the millennium and a desire to copy high-profile celebrity marriages - such as those of Zeta Jones and Douglas and Posh and Becks - may well have swayed considerable numbers of men and women to tie the knot.

"There is little doubt that cultural influences, like those created by celebrity couples, can make a differ-ence," said Penny Mansfield of One Plus One.

"But the biggest cause of this pretty significant jump is the fact that people waited in 1999 so they could be married in 2000."

For supporters of marriage as the ideal form of union between two people - not to mention the glue that holds the family unit and thus society as we know it together - the figures will be encouraging.

But is a marriage based on following the stars likely to be a lasting one?

It seems there are as many theories and opinions as there are couples in the world, happily married or otherwise.

Francis McGlone, a senior researcher with the Family Policy Studies Centre thinks people who get married in the 21st century are waiting a while before they do, living with each other in the meantime, and are more likely to stay the course as a result.

She said, "We know that cohabitation in itself is less likely to survive than marriage, so it is possible that we are now getting a self-selecting group of people who are more likely to stick at it."

But agony aunt Julia Cole believes a fundamental shift may be occurring in the way we look at marriage.

"In real terms the divorce rate has trebled since 1969," she said.

"Marriage has become seen as an institution, as a ball and chain rather

than something that could set you free, that provides stability and security. That's a real shame."

Denise Knowles, a relationship counsellor with Relate, is more optimistic, suggesting that the wider choice of wedding options available to couples now - including self-written secular ceremonies - could actually encourage young people to marry.

"Religion is always going to be important to people and everyone is going to have a belief," she said.

"But now there is a chance for people who do not commit to a religion to commit to each other in a way that is very personal.

"We are now able to get married in so many different locations. Couples

can make it very, very personal. It can be as unique as they feel their relationship is."